Rational design of small-molecule inhibitors for β-catenin/T-cell factor protein-protein interactions by bioisostere replacement

ACS Chem Biol. 2013 Mar 15;8(3):524-9. doi: 10.1021/cb300564v. Epub 2013 Jan 4.

Abstract

A new hot spot-based design strategy using bioisostere replacement is reported to rationally design nonpeptidic small-molecule inhibitors for protein-protein interactions. This method is applied to design new potent inhibitors for β-catenin/T-cell factor (Tcf) interactions. Three hot spot regions of Tcf for binding to β-catenin were quantitatively evaluated; the key binding elements around K435 and K508 of β-catenin were derived; a bioisostere library was used to generate new fragments that can match the proposed critical binding elements. The most potent inhibitor, with a molecular weight of 230, has a Kd of 0.531 μM for binding to β-catenin and a Ki of 3.14 μM to completely disrupt β-catenin/Tcf interactions. The binding mode of the designed inhibitors was validated by the site-directed mutagenesis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. This study provides a new approach to design new small-molecule inhibitors that bind to β-catenin and effectively disrupt β-catenin/Tcf interactions specific for canonical Wnt signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Drug Design*
  • Fluorescence Polarization
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Molecular Weight
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemical synthesis
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • TCF Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • beta Catenin / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • TCF Transcription Factors
  • beta Catenin